Virginia Hume, Daughter of Brit Hume, Comes to Defense of Brett Kavanaugh Over High School Party Accusation

Former RNC deputy press secretary Virginia Hume Onufer, the daughter of Fox News eminence grise Brit Hume, has come to the defense of her longtime friend Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanuagh over last minute reports that he was accused earlier this summer of sexually assaulting a girl at a party when they were in high school in the early 1980s. Hume spoke out on Twitter and signed a letter along with dozens of female high school contemporaries attesting to Kavanaugh’s character.

The accusation against Kavanaugh was made in a letter to the now-grown woman’s Congressman, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and forwarded to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee tasked with vetting the Kavanaugh nomination. The accuser did not want to come forward publicly. Feinstein did not share the letter with her fellow Democrats or Republicans on the committee, apparently deciding that the alleged drunken high school party incident was too old not and serious enough to pursue further. Pressure by Democrats who recently learned about the letter forced Feinstein to refer the accusation to the FBI on Wednesday. The FBI said it would not investigate the matter but would add it too Kavanaugh’s background file.

Rumors about the letter reported by the media cast the incident as Kavanaugh and a male friend locking the girl in a room while at a drunken party and the girl getting out relatively unscathed.

The woman, who has asked not to be identified, first approached Democratic lawmakers in July, shortly after Trump nominated Kavanaugh. The allegation dates back to the early nineteen-eighties, when Kavanaugh was a high-school student at Georgetown Preparatory School, in Bethesda, Maryland, and the woman attended a nearby high school. In the letter, the woman alleged that, during an encounter at a party, Kavanaugh held her down, and that he attempted to force himself on her. She claimed in the letter that Kavanaugh and a classmate of his, both of whom had been drinking, turned up music that was playing in the room to conceal the sound of her protests, and that Kavanaugh covered her mouth with his hand. She was able to free herself. Although the alleged incident took place decades ago and the three individuals involved were minors, the woman said that the memory had been a source of ongoing distress for her, and that she had sought psychological treatment as a result.

In a statement, Kavanaugh said, “I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time.”

Kavanaugh’s classmate said of the woman’s allegation, “I have no recollection of that.”

In response to a heckler, Hume replied about her friendship with Kavanaugh and his family, “We are still friends. I’m friends with his wife. I know his neighbors.We go to the same church. He’s had dinner in my home…Harvey? Never met him, thank God”

We are still friends. I’m friends with his wife. I know his neighbors.We go to the same church. He’s had dinner in my home…

Hume retweeted the letter she co-signed supporting Kavanaugh and responded to queries about it.

65 women of bipartisan backgrounds who knew Judge Kavanaugh in high school: "For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect" & has "stood out for his friendship, character, and integrity" #SCOTUShttps://t.co/9dT54BC2qMpic.twitter.com/5QtcPfwjX5

We are women who have known Brett Kavanaugh for more than 35 years and knew him
while he attended high school between 1979 and 1983. For the entire time we have known Brett
Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect. We strongly believe it is
important to convey this information to the Committee at this time.

Brett attended Georgetown Prep, an all-boys high school in Rockville, Maryland. He was
an outstanding student and athlete with a wide circle of friends. Almost all of us attended allgirls
high schools in the area. We knew Brett well through social events, sports, church, and
various other activities. Many of us have remained close friends with him and his family over
the years. Through the more than 35 years we have known him, Brett has stood out for his
friendship, character, and integrity. In particular, he has always treated women with decency and
respect. That was true when he was in high school, and it has remained true to this day.

The signers of this letter hold a broad range of political views. Many of us are not
lawyers, but we know Brett Kavanaugh as a person. And he has always been a good person.”

Hume’s replies about the letter:

“I learned of and agreed to sign the letter last night”

“I signed the letter. I learned of it *last night*”

“This is absurd. I signed the letter. I learned of it last night.”

And as to whether she told Fox news about the letter supporting Kavanaugh, “No”.

“The letter was conceived and drafted by friends of Brett’s, and it was drafted after allegations came out on Thursday. I learned about the letter from a friend and fellow signatory. Others learned about it the same way. Those surprised at the speed with which it came together should see it as yet another testament to Brett’s excellent reputation.”

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